Means for preventing refilling of bottles.



No. 738,238. PATENTE'D SEPT. 8, 1903.

J. REID.

MEANS FOR PREVENTING REFILLING OF BOTTLES. APPLICATION I'ILBD MAY 25.1903.

no MODEL.

Nit'nesse s: fabzffez'd Inventor,

Attorneys- NITED STATES Patented September 8, 190 3.

PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN REID, OF BELFAST, IRELAND.

v SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 738,238, datedSeptember 8, 1903.

Application filed May 25, 1903. Serial No. 158,607. (No model) .To allwhom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN REID, a subject of the United Kingdom of GreatBritain and Ireland, have invented a certain new and useful ImprovedMeans for Preventing the Refilling of Bottles, of which the following isa specification, such as will enable others skilled, in the art to whichit appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to an improved device whichI call a cork or stopperforbottles, and is designed to prevent the bottles with which it is usedfrom being refilled unless the said cork 0r stopper is broken.

My improved corks or stoppers are suitable for use with many kinds ofbottles and may vary in size according to requirements.

In carrying out my invention I use a cork of tubular or sleeve-likeshape designed to fit into the neck or mouth of the bottle with which itis to be used. Into this tubular cork I insert a disk of metal of largerdiameter than the tube or bore of the cork and having a serrated ortoothed outer edge, which edge at the time of insertion is bent orfolded back to allow the disk to pass into the tube or bore of the cork.When at the required position in approximately the center of the cork,the serrated or toothed edge is bent outward by suitable tools, whichpress it into the cork. This disk is perforated with one or more holes.Into the lower end of the cork I fit a small cage-like frame open on itslower side. This cage is preferably made of two pieces ofinverted-U-shaped wire crossing each other at the center of their curvedends. The cage can be held in position in the cork by binding the endsof the wires into the cork or by any other suitable means. Below thiscage I attach a ring or disk of metal or other suitable material havinga hole in its center. This ring is attached in any suitable manner, asby inserting its edge into or around the cork. A ball, preferably ofglass or porcelain, is placed in the cage and is free to drop onto thering when the cork is upright. This ball fits closely into the hole inthe ring, thus preventing any liquid from being poured into the bottlewhen the same is in an upright position. IVhcn the bottle is turnedover, the

ball runs or falls forward in the cage and allows the contents of thebottle to be poured out. The tubular cork is slit in one or more placesto render it fragile, and thereby liable to break if an attempt is madeto withdraw it.

I will now describe my invention with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which Figure 1 shows a sectionalview of the neck of abottle in an upright position and shows one of my improved corks orstoppers with the ball resting on the ring, completely stopping orfilling the hole in the same. Fig. 2 shows a view similar to Fig. 1, butshows the neck of the bottle in a horizontal position and the ball awayfrom the ring, resting in the Wire cage. Figs. 3 to 10, inclusive, aredetailed views of the Various parts of my improved stopper or cork. Fig.11 shows a sectional view of the tubular cork and a simple pair of toolswhich can be used to flatten the disk and insert the edge or teeth ofthe same into the cork.

a is the tubular cork with slits e e.

b is the ball.

0 is the wire cage.

61 is the toothed disk.

f is the ring with hole g, into which the ball Z) drops and fits whenthe bottle is upright.

as y are the pair of tools or dies which fit the tubular cork andbetween the faces of which the disk is flattened, so that the teethenter the cork. I

The tubular portion of my invention can be made of cork or any othersuitable material, and the cage, disk, or ring may be made in variousshapes.

It will be seen that my invention supplies a very simple and effectivestopper or cork which prevents bottles from being refilled unless thestopper is withdrawn, which it will be very difficult to do withoutbreaking the tubular portion.

The bottle must be filled in the first i11- stance before the stopper isinserted.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A device for preventing the refilling of bottles consisting of atubular cork, a perforated disk inserted in said cork, a cage and ballcarried within said cork, and a ring atand for the purposes hereindescribed and set 'tached to said cork adapted to allow liquid forth. 10

to pass out of the bottle when inverted, said In Witness whereof I havehereunto set my tubular cork being slit or cut so that it canhand inpresence of two witnesses.

not be removed Without breaking, substan- JOHN REID. tially as hereindescribed and set forth. \Vitnesses: V

2. In a device for preventing the refilling ARTHUR S. MEGAW,

of bottles, a tubular cork with slits 01' cuts as ANNIE M. THOMPSON.

